Organizers had fun with the marketing for this year’s market, using the hashtag #NotYourGrandmasChurchBazaar / Heather Mann
CULLMAN – As the holiday season draws near, many people are looking for presents for friends and family, and local fundraiser sales can be a great way to shop for the perfect gift while giving back to the community. One such fundraiser, held by Cullman First United Methodist Church on Saturday, gave shoppers the chance to support three different church missions while preparing for the holidays.
Cullman FUMC’s second annual GIFTS: Missions Market was held to raise funds for three missions, two local and one international, though organizers said they hope to increase that number as the sale grows each year. This year, the market funds will go to Loads of Love (a monthly laundry assistance program), Knapsacks for Kids (a program that sends food home with kids for the weekend) and the church’s Jamaican mission team and the orphanage it sponsors.
Everything sold at the market was donated by members of the congregation and the community. Farmers, bakers, craft workers and local businesses provided all kinds of goods and goodies for shoppers to choose from: locally-grown produce like sweet potatoes and mixed greens, homemade jams and baked goods, wooden crafts, knitted and crocheted accessories, and an abundance of gift certificates. Visitors could either buy goods directly from most of the tables or participate in a silent auction. Guests also enjoyed a spaghetti lunch provided by church members.
The Missions Market debuted last year and raised around $7,000 for the three missions, and this year’s market looked to bring in about the same, if not more. Anyone interested in helping to support these missions can expect the market to return next year on the weekend before the Iron Bowl, or donations can be given through the church office at any time.
Find the church online at http://cullmanfumc.com or www.facebook.com/cullmanfumc.
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